MINNEAPOLIS – He has hesitated at times.

You might say he has tried too hard to blend in.

Yes, Jimmer Fredette has played like a rookie.

The Kings have yet to see Fredette play the way he did as a senior at BYU, where he was a prolific scorer and the consensus national Player of the Year last season.

Fredette has been asked to facilitate, but the Kings don't want him to forget what makes his game special.

"Looking for his shot a little bit more would be better for him, but I think he's trying to fit into a team," said Kings coach Keith Smart. "But I'm telling him all the time: 'Be you. Don't try to be this point guard and average 10 assists – just be you and shoot when you have to shoot. The team understands that.' "

Fredette has struggled to make shots (33.9 percent) and has turned down good shots. Also, he sometimes has been open and ready to catch and shoot, and teammates have failed to get him the ball.

Fredette acknowledged he has been tentative at times while figuring out how to get off his shot in the NBA.

Fredette, who is averaging 7.8 points and 2.2 assists, said his struggles have not shaken his confidence.

"There have been games where I haven't been as great, and there have been games where I played pretty well," Fredette said. "I need to be more consistent, but the confidence is still there, and I believe I can play at this level and at a high level."

Smart said Fredette's struggles are similar to those of Stephen Curry, whom Smart coached at Golden State.

As Fredette learns spacing and gets comfortable, Smart added, his shots will start falling. Teams still defend Fredette aggressively, knowing he can shoot well.

Fredette is picking up the Kings' offensive and defensive concepts well, Smart said.

Fredette works with assistant coach Bobby Jackson on ways to get off shots against NBA defenders as a smaller guard. Jackson had a successful career as a 6-foot-1 guard. Fredette is listed at 6-2.

"It's tough for him, because he's got a slow release," Jackson said. "But the thing about him is he's got to have confidence. Shooting is confidence."

Jackson said all rookies encounter difficulties but that there is more scrutiny on Fredette because of his struggles to start the season.

Once Fredette figures out the NBA, "the sky's the limit" for him, Jackson said.

"The most important things are having confidence in himself and shooting that shot that you would when you were in college," Jackson said. "Don't second-guess yourself. He's doing a lot of thinking right now."

Fredette's teammates are also in his ear to be aggressive. They want to see him play loose.

"It seems like he's just thinking too much," said Kings guard Tyreke Evans. "Coach hasn't yelled at him or disrespected him for him not to be playing how he played in college. He's just got to go out there and play and put everything else aside."

Fredette understands what he must do to break out of his shooting slump – shoot. The Kings acquired him in a draft-day trade because they needed outside shooters.

"That's what shooters do," Fredette said. "They'll shoot their way out of it, and then they'll get into a groove. That's what you've got to continue to do."

Fredette must be aggressive to ensure he can shoot his way into a groove. So when he gets open, Fredette can't hesitate.

"He's just got to take open shots," Evans said. "Sometimes he gets open looks, and he pump fakes. Just let it fly."

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